Feds' failure to respond irks group president
After nearly a year of asking to be involved in the Programmatic Agreement process, We Are Guahan, the Guam Boonie Stompers Association, and other organizations received an invitation today.
By KUAM NewsGuam - After nearly a year of asking to be involved in the Programmatic Agreement process, We Are Guahan, the Guam Boonie Stompers Association, and other organizations received an invitation today. The Department of Defense invited the groups and three others to participate in consultation on the PA.
While this is something many in the community have been seeking, Boonie Stompers president Dave Lotz says up until now their concerns have been ignored despite the process calling for the parties to come together and discuss and develop solutions. "How can you get a good sense of the community through an open government process? Section 106 is designed to provide if you exclude other groups such as ours and others - Chamorro Nation comes to mind - and I know there's other groups that are keenly interested in what's proposed to happen with the development and protection of our cultural resources," he said.
We Are Guahan member Attorney Leevin Camacho confirms the invitations were received today, but expressed some concerns as they were notified that a public hearing will be held after the PA is signed. Camacho adds substantial changes have been made to the PA due to the involvement of the Guam Legislature, the community and the efforts of State Historic Preservation Officer Lynda Aguon, and Parks & Recreation Director Joe Duenas.